Into the West

[Rensslaer]

You know... It further occurs to me that Barnes may be sending him into something intending him not to survive. Somehow I suspect he would be wrong!

Renss

 

[unmerged(15337)]

You know... It further occurs to me that Barnes may be sending him into something intending him not to survive.

I don't think so. Not now. Barnes owns him, body and soul. I think Sonny is finally broken completely to Barnes's will and he is far more use to Barnes alive than dead.

 

[unmerged(24320)]

very interesting development of Sonny and Barnes! ! even, a magnificent development! !

 

[coz1]

Fb-fb:

Amric - Thanks. I am afraid this coming update doesn't do much to explain everything just yet, but it's another layer. I'll solve this little bit before the chapter ends, though.

Renss - A Sonny/Barnes showdown? Cannot say on that yet, but it would be something. Just wait. As for if Sonny follows Barnes or not, keep reading.

Director - Why thank you, sir. But does this mean my others are not scenes? And yes, it was time for Barnes to take the gloves off, as it were. But we are nowhere near discovering everything out about the man, if we ever do.

jwolf - Quite right. If Barnes wanted Sonny dead, he would be dead already. He has other plans.

GhostWriter - Well, you'd be hard pressed to explain that to Sonny. I imagine he would just as soon do without al this fuss.

And another update follows after a typo pass. As I said, it does little to explain everything going on at the moment, but it does provide a glimpse into what is about to happen. Consider them more clues.

Thanks, as always, to all of you wonderful readers for enjoying and commenting!

 

[coz1]

Chapter VII (cont.)

* * *​

The sun had just set, leaving orange and red tendrils of light still grasping at the edges of the sky. It was enough to make out the features of Hollis riding next to him, but the face was muddy in the early evening haze. Sonny turned his attention back ahead and rode on in silence, intent on taking care of this business and doing what he had to do. And Barnes had made sure he would, by sending Hollis along. Sonny was not armed, yet. Hollis was told to give Sonny his gun only when they reached their destination. And that was fast upon them.

They both slowed to a trot when they moved past the fence marking to corner of the man’s property. It was a great gothic revival house built in the middle of nowhere, and displayed the wealth that was obvious for the man they were going to see. A lane reached towards the house, and Sonny and Hollis followed it until they came upon the front door of the mansion.

As Sonny dismounted, Hollis reached down from his horse and held out Sonny’s gun. “You know how it works, right?”

Sonny slowly reached out and curled his fingers around the pearl handle. “Yeah.”

“Now, he’s in there with a gal Barnes done arraigned to come out here. She’s keepin’ him busy until you can do yer work. He’s the one got to die, but if’n ya feel like pluggin’ her too, well, I ain’t gonna be sad.”

Sonny looked up at Hollis, his gun still resting comfortably in his hand. “Who is she?”

“It don’t matter. I’ll be watchin’ ya, kid. Remember this…if he comes outta that house alive, you don’t. Understand? And frankly, I might just like to see that. But it ain’t what the boss wants. So move.”

There was an eerie silence in the air, as if everything, even time had stopped to witness the event. Sonny took the stage and moved towards the house. Quietly, he walked up three small steps, taking each one with care. The second made a creaking sound as he placed his weight on it, and he stopped for a moment to allow it to settle. He stepped over and onto the third step and then the porch, looking to his left and right. The porch itself wrapped around both sides of the house, and Sonny wondered if perhaps another entry might be a better choice. Was there anyone else in the house? He had not asked.

Deciding to go in as planned, he slowly reached his hand to the door handle and turned. It was unlocked. He made a gentle push on the door, causing it to slowly open. The hinges did not squeak. He wondered if this too was planned. How well did Barnes think this out? And if he was able to give it this much detail, why did he need Sonny? But he knew the answer. Sonny was only an added bonus.

Sonny took the first step across the threshold and into the hallway. A room off to the left was dark, but he could make out a long table. To his right was the parlor. A few lit candles gave the room a teasing and wicked light that danced along the walls with the breeze. But he saw no one in the room. Then he heard a sound upstairs. Ahead was a staircase leading to the second floor, a carpet laid as a runner. Good, he thought. It would make his ascent quiet.

He took each step with caution, again taking notice of those loose boards that might give him away. Reaching the top, he looked down both sides of the hallway. Dark to his right, the light shown from a room, two doors down on the left. He held out his gun and checked to make sure it was loaded. It was and he nodded. But he did not move.

Why did he hesitate? He had no choice. He turned slowly and looked back down the steps and saw that Hollis had followed him into the house but stood in the frame of the front door, waiting. Hollis pointed with his chin for Sonny to move, and then followed with a hand signal. It was now or never. Move forward and kill, or move back and die. Sonny moved forward.

It did not take long to reach the room, and through the door, he could see a man sitting in a chair, half dressed. In front of him, with her back to the door, was a woman. The woman Barnes had sent to keep this man here and alone. Her long, curly hair cascaded down her corseted back, black curls mixed with white lace strings. He heard a giggle and recognized it. He pushed the door open and held out his gun as greetings.

Both the man and the girl turned to look at the intruder, and an audible gasp could be heard. Kitty sat on the floor, unable to speak.

“What…what are you doin’ here?” Sonny asked in near horror.

From behind him, he heard the answer. “I told ya someone was sent.”

Sonny did not need to turn his head to know Hollis said it. He kept his gaze on Kitty.

“What the hell are you men doing here?” the man stood to protect himself, and Kitty.

“Ya sit down now!” Sonny responded with force. He looked back at Kitty, “And you too. Sit over there in that chair.”

“Son…Sonny...plea…”

“Shut yer mouth,” Hollis said from behind him.

“Hollis! If’n ya want this done then stay the hell out of it!” Again, Sonny did not turn to face him.

The man had gently fallen back into the chair, and tried to give comfort to Kitty, “Don’t you worry, honey. They probably just want some money. They’ll be gone soon.”

“No, they won’t,” she answered. Both the man and Sonny were shocked.

“What do ya know of all this, Kitty? Why are ya here?” Sonny asked with a fear of the answer.

She would not look up, wouldn’t face Sonny. She could not. She meekly whispered, “I was told to.”

“Told to?” Sonny asked with disbelief.

“Paid to,” she corrected herself through tears. “By Barnes.”

“But ya said ya didn’t…”

“She said a lot of things, Sonny.” Hollis moved from behind Sonny and walked over to the man. “Now, let’s get this over with. I got an itch for a steak.”

Sonny pointed his gun at the man, though one might be correct in assuming he was also pointing it at Hollis. Hollis seemed to sense this as well and moved over to Kitty. He stopped next to here, and ran his hand along her bare shoulder. “Real pretty, this one.” Turning to her, he pulled on her hair a bit, “Made it easy, didn’t it?”

Sonny took a step towards them, but Hollis cut him off. “It ain’t us yer here to deal with, kid. Take him.”

He stopped. He couldn’t do anything. Sure, he could kill Hollis, but Barnes would come for him. And now he was wondering why he cared about saving Kitty. He was too confused and did not know what to think. She had told him she did not work for Barnes, that he was an awful man. What was she doing now? Had he forced her? She had not appeared as if she needed forcing when he first saw them.

“Do it!” Hollis shouted as Kitty’s tears grew stronger. Sonny came out of his mental drift and walked closer to the man.

“What’s yer name?”

“What in hell does that matter, Sonny? Kill the bastard!”

Sonny turned to Hollis quickly and shot him a squinted glare. “I like to know who I’m killin’.” Turning back to the man seated in the chair, Sonny repeated his question.

“Finch…S.S.Sam Finch,” came the stuttered reply.

“OK then, Mr. Sam Finch. I guess this means it’s time to…”

“Look Mister…I…I don’t know what it is you want…but…but, I think maybe I have an idea. And I can pay you. You don’t have to do this. I can pay you.”

“That’s taken care of, Mister,” Sonny answered coldly.

“It’s Barnes, isn’t it? He told you to do this? You don’t know what your doing. You can’t know. A war is going to start soon, Mister. And we have to get ready.”

“A war?”

“The states, Mister. They are already moving their gunboats towards our ports. They got Sherman headed to New Orleans. It’s coming any day. You have to listen…”

“I ain’t got to do nothin’ but take care of ya, Mister. I don’t know nothin’ ‘bout all that other stuff.”

But, in fact, he did. No, he didn’t know about the war that was coming. But he surely remembered the war he had just left.

“Do you not know who I am?” the man tired fruitlessly to beg again. “I’m the Governor dammit! You can’t do this to me!”

“I sure as hell can,” came another cold reply.

“And he better do it soon,” Hollis followed with a frown.

Sonny turned to look at Kitty, her sobs coming fast and heavy. “I still don’t get it, though.”

She finally looked up at him with red eyes, “I’m sorry, Sonny.”

He did not answer. Did not want to hear the apology. Didn’t even want her to speak anymore. He took the moment to look her up and down. How had he fallen for it again? She was very pretty. And she lied with such ease. Even made him feel bad about suspecting her. Damn her!

He turned back to Finch, and held his gun level with the man’s head. He took one more look over to Kitty, a slight glance to Hollis, and then pulled the trigger. A bullet lodged into the man’s head, the force of the shot sending his chair tumbling backwards. Kitty screamed as the gun went off and she held her face in her hands.

“Well, that’s it kid.” Hollis grinned and looked back down at Kitty. “Ya wanna do her too?”

“Get away from her,” Sonny calmly stated with a cold look devoid of emotion as he sighted his gun on Hollis.

“That’s a dangerous thing yer doin’ there,” Hollis responded. But he did back away from Kitty as directed.

“We done what we came for. Now let’s go.” Sonny gestured with his gun for Hollis to leave the room before him, and this he did. Hollis moved passed the door and into the hall, and Sonny began to follow. From behind him, he heard, “Sonny…I…”

But before Kitty could finish, he closed the door to the room, leaving her inside with the dead Finch. He heard loud sobs come from the room, but paid it no mind as he moved back to the stairs.

Hollis inched ahead of him, and turned when he got to the first step, a large grin on his face. “Ain’t all that bad, Sonny-boy. Jest wait to see what the boss gonna do now. Things gonna be jest fine.”

Sonny holstered his gun and moved past Hollis on the stairs without a word. Hollis shrugged his shoulders and followed him down. They both climbed back on their horses when they got outside, Sonny giving one last glance towards an upstairs window. Then they made their way back to Lago in silence. Sonny had questions, but there was only one man that could answer them. And he would find those answers in time. It seemed Barnes would make sure of that.

To be continued...​

 

[Amric]

Whacking the Governor is pretty harsh. But I did figure a politician might die. So now Barnes will have to pick up the pieces if he wants to save Texas. But then again, perhaps he WANTS the US to come into Texas and crush it. He might be only 'saying' he wants Texas to be free, when in reality he is working to foment trouble and make it easier for the US to take it back.

Nice verbage in the start of the update. The sunlight grasping at the sky? Wouldn't have thought of that, very nicely done. Excellent work, yet again!

 

[unmerged(24320)]

..“..but if’n ya feel like pluggin’ her too, well, I ain’t gonna be sad.”...

when i read this, i knew it was Kitty...

this Barnes is a mighty evil dude. making Kitty an accessory to murder... all he cares about is the ability to pull strings! !

i have a suspicion that the US is gonna win this war, no matter what anyone does...

 

[stnylan]

Well it seems I have not kept my eye on the ball as far as this AAR is concerned. What a trio of updates. Sonny should have shot Barnes, pure and simple. Of course that would have meant there would be hell to pay, but isn't that he has since had to pay anyway?

Hollis is, I feel, a dead man walking. I think there is a bullet in Sonny's possession with his name on it, and I wonder if Hollis knows it too.

And Barnes, now Barnes is a different sort of villain. A man who perhaps enjoys playing with fire? For fire is what Sonny is. It would have been far wiser to kill him, but Sonny is useful, and it must please Barnes' ego to prove that he is right. Pride, a deadly sin.

As for Sonny, well, I can only feel that the worst is yet to come.

 

[Director]

The last time I complimented you I got a frowny face so I won't do that now. ( ).

On the one hand we see Sonny descend into killing whenever and whoever he is told. On the other we see that he kills not casually, and not to save himself, but to protect his friends and 'family'.

So Sonny is a soldier, in the service of his friends. As is common to soldiers I am sure this protection is misunderstood.

Tommy

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o'beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:

O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins,'' when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mr. Atkins,'' when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!

For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.

Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy how's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints:
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;

While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind,"
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.

For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country," when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
But Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool - you bet that Tommy sees!

Rudyard Kipling - as usual - had the right of it, and he says it far better than ever I could.



If Hollis had a brain, well... but he doesn't, except I noticed he was careful to walk behind Sonny on the way out. Hollis belongs to the breed of men who think power comes from a gun and will never be challenged.

God knows I'm not a violent man myself but I shall look forward to Hollis' death in expectation of deep satisfaction. Start with the kneecaps and work your way up, Sonny. Take your time. Let him learn something before he dies.

My bet is Hollis dies in two posts. Anyone else care to bet?

 

[stnylan]

My bet is Hollis dies in two posts. Anyone else care to bet?

Putting myself out on a limb I think you're doubling his life expectency.

 

[Judge]

Sonny is really turning into a murder machine. Powerful updates coz and very enjoyable too. The political development is one thing but how will this affect Sonny as a person? I have a feeling he will end up as a big looser

 

[unmerged(15337)]

Way back when I was among those readers who suggested that Kitty's romantic encounter with Sonny was part of Barnes's plan to recruit him. My face is still stinging from Kitty's outraged slap after I made that accusation, but IMHO the last chapter vindicates me.

As for Sonny, I'm starting to think he really doesn't deserve Corinna after all. Whatever is going down in Texas, a lot of people are going to get killed.

 

[Stuyvesant]

Barnes is showing himself to be quite the showy puppetmaster. Waiting patiently for Sonny to return and then using Sonny's one weakness, his friends, as the collateral to enforce his good behaviour. Sending him out to kill the Texas governor, which is the equivalent of a satanic pact signed in blood: now both of them, but Sonny in particular, are damned.

Sending in Kitty as the woman to seduce and distract the governor was a very unsubtle way to remind Sonny just how great Barnes' hold is over him and his friends alike. But it seems to have backfired. Sonny no longer cares about her, so that's one of Barnes' holds on Sonny taken away. Now there's only Lem and Thomas left to worry about... Were I a gambling man, I would hazard a guess that Thomas will join forces with Barnes (for his own safety, or for Kitty's safety, or simply because it seems a more realistic option than joining Sonny in opposing Barnes (which he, Sonny, WILL do, eventually) and that Lem will somehow die. Then, Sonny will once again be free, indeed he'll feel compelled to take his revenge on Barnes to avenge Lem.

Then, when all the players in this current act of the drama are either dead or forever hostile to Sonny, will Sonny move on, away from Texas and perhaps closer to the West.

Oh yeah: Hollis' life expectancy - he's clearly a dead man. My guess is that his death (at the hands of Sonny) will herald the next round in the power struggle between Sonny and Barnes.

 

[Rensslaer]

Then, when all the players in this current act of the drama are either dead or forever hostile to Sonny, will Sonny move on, away from Texas and perhaps closer to the West.

While your entire comment is very well thought out, I highlight this line as closest to how I now (after the update) picture Sonny's final scene in Texas. A room full of dead people and no strings left attached.

So, once freed, does Sonny go looking for freedom? Or forgiveness? Or Tanney?

Very interesting, Coz! Great stuff. Tugging at those heartstrings. I've got 'em still... not so sure about Sonny. It seems he's operating more on brainpower now (albeit confused such) than on his emotion, which seems to have gone cold.

Rensslaer

 

[coz1]

Fb-fb:

Amric - Can't say just yet what Barnes' motives are, but you are on the right track. And thank you for the compliment. It seemed the right way to phrase it given the mood of the update.

GhostWriter - I think you would be right on your assumption. I certainly made sure of that. We'll see what it does for the story.

stnylan - Barnes surely has a bit too much pride which may get him in trouble. We shall see. And Hollis? See below.

Director - So, what...no more compliments? Lesse...anymore faces needed? :wacko: ... As for the song, thanks for sharing that. And yes, Kipling had plenty of wise words to say on the subject of soldiering. And you and stnylan sure do think Hollis is going soon. I wouldn't be too sure of that just yet. For his lack of smarts, he does seem to have a decent survival instinct. I mean, something has kept him alive this long.

Judge - The first and last sentences in your comment pretty much sum things up well for Sonny. I'll say no more for the moment.

jwolf - Yes, I was thinking of you and Renss when I wrote that. I was hoping I would not get lambasted for making you believe one thing while doing another, but I will explain it away by saying, "Kitty made me do it!" She would not let me tell the truth of it just yet, else it spoil her time with Sonny. However, her story is not yet complete.

As for Sonny, well - you are right. I don't know that he deserves Corinna either. But then again, as Eastwood said in Unforgiven, "Deserves got nothin' to do with it." Things just kind of happened that way in the west. And I would even venture to say that the degrees of morality that we think of today were perhaps bent slightly back then and in that environment. Which does not suggest Sonny is wrong for his actions. And nor does it suggest he will be doing any better anytime soon. If you think he's a bad man now, then I am afraid you will continue to be disappointed in him. He has a long way to go before Wyoming. Hopefully the way I have set him up will allow you to follow his actions and reasoning all the way through to the redemption...if there is such. Cryptic, I know. Sorry.

Stuyvesant - I can't say yes or no to your theory, but I will say that's not a bad bet, not a bad bet at all.

Renss - You posted while I was making my comments. But you are also on the right track.

Now, I had hoped to get an update up yesterday but a few things are conspiring against me, mainly some congestion trying to take me down, now combined with the crazy back and forth weather we are getting down here in which it is a cold as hell morning followed by a pefectly wonderful afternoon in which bermuda shorts and short sleeves would be appropriate. Together, they are doing their best impression of a pain in the ass and playing havoc with my sinus cavity and allergies. Hopefully mother nature will make her fickle mind up soon, but being the woman she is, I'm certainly not going to put any money on that.

Added to that, the most recent epispode of the Sopranos has my mind working over-time trying to figure out what in the hell is going on, and further I have become a mod at The Chase Lounge, a fansite and discussion board devoted to the show. So I've been posting and such over there a bit in the past few days. Head over if you like the show and want to read some opinions of other pretty darn intelligent people. You will know me as Detective Hunt over there.

With all that said, I hope to have the next update up by the weekend. Maybe I'll send Mother Nature out to do a little shoe shopping. That ought to keep her busy long enough to get my sinuses back. Of course then I'll be out of money..."ya jest can't win," said Sonny with a cruel smile.

 

[coz1]

Chapter VII (cont.)

* * *​

Sonny directed his horse to move down the main street of Lago as he and Hollis returned from the previous evening’s work. His mind was a mixture of so many emotions, that Sonny could barely begin to comprehend the first, much less the last. As he so often did, he placed them all into a box and stowed it tightly away in the recesses of his brain, allowing only a trickle to descend and pierce his now hardened heart.

The morning light showed the town to be busy with men and women moving with some speed as they boarded up buildings and loaded wagons with whatever goods they owned. They had obviously been made aware of something and Sonny had a good idea what that something was, thanks to the words of the former Governor. Hollis peeled off as they approached Barnes’ office and Sonny moved the few more steps to the front.

Barnes stood in the doorway, his tall body leaning against the frame. He did not smile, but neither did he frown. He simply watched the people go about their business until Sonny came into sight. On this, he did curl one end of his lips up to indicate he was pleased at something. Sonny dropped from his horse and tied the reins to a post as he approached him.

“Well, my good man…it appears we lack governance.” Barnes’ wit escaped Sonny as he looked around again at the people in the street. Barnes continued, “It must be so if you return. And I must applaud the effort as it finds me well this morning.”

“What in hell are ya talkin’ about?” Sonny allowed his irritations to show.

“Now, now. I cannot assuage what must be going through your mind right now, but allow it to settle and think me not a bad man.”

“Ya seem far too happy, Barnes.”

“And you too bitter. But I suppose I understand. Come in and have a drink. It will help carry away that which ails you.”

Sonny nodded at that and hoisted himself onto the landing, skipping the stairs. He brushed past Barnes as he walked in doors, just slightly bumping him as he did so. Barnes did not let the small gesture faze him, and followed Sonny inside. They walked to the bar and Barnes went behind the counter, reaching underneath and pulled out a bottle of whisky. He lined three shot glasses on the bar and poured a drink into each. Sonny at first wondered who the third one was for, but quickly realized with irritation that Hollis would also have his morning libation.

As the three men hoisted the drinks to their lips, Barnes slammed his down on the counter in celebration. “And it has begun!”

Sonny steeled his gaze at Barnes as he licked the remainder of the whisky from his lips. “About that. Ya mind fillin’ me in now that it’s done?”

“I suppose you must know sooner or later. Little harm in telling you now. Hmm, how best to put this?” Barnes pondered the thought for a few seconds as he looked at the ceiling. “When one has been done a wrong, they must have recourse, yes? As I have often suggested, we men here must do what we must do to survive…and yes, thrive. Well, last night was the final act in my own…shall we call it, recovery? Yes, I like that.”

“Recovery?”

“Recovery, yes. Of my dignity, perhaps? Or perhaps restitution is the better word. You see, this man had done me wrong, Sonny. I helped make this country and when it came time to put controls on it, I was left in the cold. You cannot imagine what that means to a man like me.”

“I can see it clear enough,” Sonny added as he poured himself another shot.

“Yes, well…as I said, when a wrong has been done, it must be acted on.” Barnes returned Sonny’s steel gaze, “I believe you are familiar with this thought, are you not?”

Sonny began to seethe, thinking Barnes was teasing. “Look fella,” Sonny began to answer, but Barnes stopped him.

“Sonny, let us not fall into this again. It does us no good. Not you, nor me. You have been victim as much as I. Do you suppose I would send you out there to do such just to be rid of you? Of course not. I have reason to keep you…to see you well paid in both safety and funds. That you must do a deed such as this is simply your form of signature on a contract between us. Can you not see this?”

“I ain’t got no idea what in hell ya mean. But I don’t…”

Barnes sighed. “You have been done wrong too, Sonny. That is what I mean. And in time you will see that what has transpired here is the best thing for you, just as it is for me. But I must have your loyalty. I cannot have fear of you.”

“Ain’t got none that I can see.”

“Yes…well, let us keep it that way.”

“Sides, seems to me like all ya done is make sure Texas falls to Billy Yank.”

“Precisely. Just as I saw to it that Texas became independent from those very same.”

“Don’t make sense.”

Barnes chuckled at that. “Not much does, Sonny. However, it seemed to me that it was far better to have a Texas that did not have to fight both the United States and the Reds in the west. My business is financial, after all. It soon became apparent to me that the men in Houston had little idea on how to run a state, protect its interests and assure its safety. I could not allow my investments to fall away. It was why I helped engineer the break from the Confederacy. I’d much rather have swift resolution than a long, protracted affair.”

Sonny knocked back another drink and began to feel the familiar warmth. He sat back onto a stool and allowed Barnes to continue.

“And so, when our man Finch could not be caged, I found it better to release him into the wild, so to speak.” Barnes seemed far too pleased with his own humor.

“So ya kill him so the state is rudderless against the Feds, givin’ ya that swift resolution.”

“I believe you have it, my boy.” Barnes smiled wide. “And after a goodly amount of time, I should think we could return here once things have settled.”

“And now ya get to the point that keeps at me. Means we got to run…that I got to run…again.”

“Yes, Sonny, that is true. But surely not for long. And I have already told you of my holdings. I do not lack for what might be termed “safe houses” at present. Places the Federals will find it hard to reach, if they even venture so far west to begin with. I doubt we’ll even have to leave the state.”

“But it’s the runnin’ I’m tired of, Barnes.”

“Sonny, you have been running this whole time when you did not need to. Now you do, I am afraid. But you shall come with me. We shall be protection for one another, rather than needing protection from one another. I prefer it that way.”

Hollis grunted as he knocked back a shot, but otherwise stayed out of the conversation. Sonny looked back to Barnes, “All right then. If’n we got to run, then I got just one request.”

“Name it, my good man. I shall do my best to fulfill it for you.”

“Ya got property near abouts, right?”

“I do,” Barnes answered with confidence.

“Then I want ya to sell a piece to Lem. He got a small bundle, and I’ll give ya the rest.”

Barnes crooked an eye as he surveyed Sonny. “I should think that regardless of how much the both of you have saved, it does not equal what I would need to feel confident in such a deal.”

“Whatever amount we’s short, I’ll keep payin’ ya. It ain’t like ya got to fear I’ll run from ya. Ya seen to that. But Lem ain’t made for this kind a work. He ain’t got no reason to keep movin’ around like we been doin’. They ain’t gonna mess with a man on his own land who ain’t taken up no arms agin’ ‘em. Let him have his life, Barnes. He deserves it.”

Barnes thought it over for a moment, allowing a quick exchange of glances with Hollis, and then poured himself and Sonny another drink. Handing Sonny his, he lifted his own glass with a grin, “You’ll be collateral on such a debt…yes, that works fine for me. We have a deal, Sonny.”

They knocked their shot glasses together and both drank the whisky down smoothly.

“And now we must prepare to move out, gentlemen. Take only that which you truly need. Leave all else behind.” He made sure to look squarely at Sonny on that, and Sonny took the meaning well. And he would do just that. Gus would surely come along. And Lem would be free to pursue whatever he wished to pursue, and just as he wanted to. And Thomas…

He did not know what Thomas would do. He was not sure he cared. He suspected Thomas might have been part of what had just happened, but was not sure. If Thomas followed Barnes, then he would be taken care of by Barnes. But not by Sonny. He was too bitter about Kitty…

Sonny pulled the bottle back to him and drank directly from it before slamming it back down on the counter. He pulled his arm across his face to dry his lips and nodded at Barnes and Hollis. “If we got to go, then let’s go. Ain’t no use wastin’ time here no more…”

He stood and walked to the door. Without turning around, he yelled back to the two men, “…So let’s get a move on.”

* * *

Wyoming Territory, 1881​

Sonny sat up in bed with a start. He was covered in sweat and the cool night air helped to sooth the heat that came from within. He took a moment or two to look around the room and recall where he was. It was a safe place, he remembered. A place to finally call home.

He lifted his legs gently over the side of the bed and stood slowly. He pulled a robe from the corner of the bed and put it on, holding it together across his body as he shuffled to the window. Looking out into the night, he tried to adjust his eyes to the darkness, thinking to himself, That's where it began…truly began.

The memories in his dreams seemed to only get worse. He wondered why he couldn’t think back on more pleasant memories. But he had a fairly good idea why. He didn’t deserve them. He turned his head to look back at the door to the room and thought of those beyond it. Did he deserve Corinna? Or even a friend like Bert? And what about Will? How was he to finally come to grips with his cousin?

He looked back out into the night and could make out the features of the lonesome landscape with a bit more clarity. “In time,” he whispered softly to himself. “Like all things…in time.”

To be continued in Chapter VIII​

 

[unmerged(15337)]

I'll have to admit that Barnes's scheming makes as much sense to me as it did to Sonny. Anyway, it was good to see Sonny could at least see that Lem got a decent chance for a life.

What was the statute of limitations for murder back in those days? Just wondering how long Sonny will be on the lam.

 

[Amric]

Pretty much what I figured, to an extant. Barnes as Kingmaker. When the proposed 'king' does him wrong, he decides to knock down the whole thing. In essence he wanted an independent Texas as a nation so that he could do as he wished. Things didn't go as he planned. The 'king', Finch, shooed Barnes out into the cold. The men in Houston were mismanaging the state, as far as Barnes is concerned. Unable to do anything about it, or more like unwilling since they screwed him, he decides to stack the deck yet again. Whacking the governor makes the entire house of cards fall. No direction for the nation. The US comes in and pretty much takes over without much of a fight. Some few years later, Barnes returns and picks up the reins of his enterprises with only the short hiccup to bother it.

He had seen the fall of the Confederacy and conspired to have Texas leave it as an independent nation. That failed, so he shuffles the cards again and 'invites' the Yankees in to clean up shop. When that job is done, he'll be back to do what he does best.

Excellent update and it certainly does explain much about Barnes' motives. At least for me. Well done, and Lem will get his land and get out from under Sonny's currently poisonous shadow.....

 

[stnylan]

Well Hollis is living longer than I expected. I think Barnes is overconfident however, and that everything will be pulled from under him yet, if not by the Federals then by his own employees.

 

[Director]

Youth makes promises where it should not, heedless of the price.